Tire size meaning

155/70 R13

What the numbers on a 155/70 R13 tire actually mean — width, sidewall, construction and rim — explained in plain language with real-world driving context.

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Direct answer

What does 155/70 R13 mean?

155/70 R13 is a metric tire size: 155 mm wide, a sidewall 70% of that width (109 mm), radial construction, fitted to a 13-inch wheel. Overall diameter ≈ 547 mm.

155
Section width in mm (sidewall to sidewall).
70
Aspect ratio — sidewall is 70% of width (109 mm).
R
Radial construction — the modern layered build.
13
Wheel rim diameter in inches (330 mm).

Ø 547 mm · 21.54″ · 582 revs/km

Section width 155 mmSidewall 109 mmR13 (330 mm)Ø 547 mm (21.54″)

Dimensional breakdown

Section width
155 mm
Aspect ratio
70%
Sidewall height
108.5 mm
Rim diameter
13″ (330.2 mm)
Overall diameter
547 mm
Circumference
1.719 m
Revs per km
582
Construction
Radial (R)

What 155/70 R13 feels like on the road

A 155/70 R13 tire is a low-profile sporty tire. With a sidewall of 109 mm, it gives precise turn-in with a reasonable ride compromise — typical for sport sedans and hot hatches.

The 155 mm contact width favours rolling efficiency and light steering effort. Combined with a 13-inch wheel, this size is most commonly found on compact city cars and older small hatchbacks.

At highway speed each tire completes about 582 revolutions per kilometre — the figure your speedometer and ABS were calibrated against if 155/70 R13 is the OEM specification.

Common alternatives to 155/70 R13

Sizes within ±3% overall diameter — generally safe swaps for speedometer accuracy and clearance. Click any size to open a full side-by-side comparison.

Driver feel · telemetry

What 155/70 R13 usually feels like

A driver-perspective read on this size — steering, comfort, highway stability and rough-road behavior.

Steering feel

Balanced, OEM-style response

A familiar OEM feel — predictable inputs without trade-offs.

Ride comfort

Comfortable daily ride

A balanced compromise — bumps muted, steering still precise.

Highway stability

Light but more wind-sensitive

Lower rolling resistance and lighter steering, with more reaction to crosswinds.

Pothole comfort

Reasonable impact protection

Enough sidewall to protect the rim from typical urban hits.

Sporty vs OEM tone

Comfort-leaning OEM setup

Tuned for ride quality and economy over outright bite.

Sidewall109 mm
Ø547 mm
Width155 mm
Revs/km582

Related tire sizes for 155/70 R13

Explore neighbouring sizes by intent — similar, wider, lower-profile, OEM-safe, or aggressive. Each link opens a full side-by-side comparison.

Wider alternatives

Lower-profile options

OEM-safe alternatives

Aggressive fitment

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Frequently asked questions